May 25 In the F-LANE

Vodafone Institute-backed F-LANE, the first European accelerator focusing on social ventures using technology to empower women, is partnering with the Impact Hub Berlin and the Social Entrepreneurship Akademie and is on the lookout for innovative tech start-ups to provide solutions to social problems.

“We want to ensure that women and girls play a leading role in shaping the future,” says F-LANE. “There is an urgent need to create gender-inclusive technology and promote women’s participation in education, workforce, entrepreneurship, leadership, and, ultimately, digitalisation. Technology offers a huge potential to overcome gender inequalities.”

F-LANE is seeking online applications for its new six-week accelerator programme starting 9 October in Berlin, with the process open until 24 July. Applicants will need to explain their company’s vision/mission, value proposition and business model, as well as describe how they empower women/girls and how technology will help them achieve this.

Four or five female start-up entrepreneurs will be selected to take part in the upcoming accelerator programme during which they will receive funding – with Vodafone a potential big investor – mentorship, individual training and opportunities, including a link-up with the global 'Vodafone family'.

Just 9% of technology start-ups worldwide are founded by women and the New World With Old Roles? study, published by the Vodafone Institute, finds that many female start-up founders feel at a disadvantage over their male colleagues. "The popular cliché that there aren't any women with tech expertise is outdated,” says Alice Steinbrück, author of the report. “To exploit the potential that already exists, the media, policy makers and investors have to change their tack.”